Compare towns
Castleton vs Conway vs Ira vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Conway has the most expensive homes ($314k median).
Ira has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Conway | Ira | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
10,141Highest |
381Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Conway and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Conway and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$64,385±$8kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5k 11% below U.S. |
$71,768±$13k 11% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$314,000±$43kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$274,400±$21k 18% below U.S. |
| Conway and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,095±$141 23% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207 28% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,087 31% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.3%±13.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Conway and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #76 of 120 in NH | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Conway School District | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Kennett High School | — | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.